DIY decorating: make a splash with paint

Interior is painted with Gypsy Pink by Benjamin Moore

Paint is one of those mysterious substances that does little enough sealed on the shelf, but pop open a can and suddenly it has the power to transform the physical universe. Color adds more than punch and panache, it changes the way we see the world around us. Craquelure and colorwashing, ragrolling and stenciling, strié and striping, are all techniques of the hand that—somewhere between the base shoe and the crown molding—empower rooms to take on a life of their own. Interior styles may vary, but colors like Sand, and Pelt always suggest a deep sense of nature, while Porphyry Pink, Brinjal (aubergine) and Babouche (deep butternut) evoke bursts of creativity.

For more info: Visit www.benjaminmoore.com

 

Many paint manufacturers now offer VOC-free paint collections. Natura paint by Benjamin Moore, for example, is zero-VOC and available in BM’s 3500+ colors as well as custom mixed varieties. A truly eco-sensitive brand, Natura’s colorants do not introduce VOCs back into the paint. For more information on e-friendly painting, visit www.benjaminmoore.com..

Interior photos courtesy of Benjamin Moore, 800-672-4686.
 

The Complete Book of Paint by David Carter - Clarkson Potter

This creative and comprehensive guide offers a compelling look at paint techniques for walls, floors, furniture, fabrics and metalwork. Chapters on space and inspiration offer easy-to-follow guidelines for opulent effects such as faux fur interiors, silhouetted salons, and theatrical hallways. The photos alone will leave the reader panting to begin an outrageous home improvement project, and the narrative is clear and instructive. This is a guide for anyone who envisions personalized interiors and customized rooms.
 

 

 

 

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, LA Interior Decorating Examiner

Laura Hurst Brown is a writer of countless features in shelter publications and five books on residential design and architecture. She believes that, pushed by the exigencies of the 21st century, we are called to rethink the places we call home and envision new strategies for inner space.

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